T2.3 Hardware & Software

Many small fashion boutiques and stores have started turning to e-commerce, allowing customers to buy online and expanding their small business.

Some hardware and software items that a small business like this might want include:

Digital camera – To take pictures of clothing and accessories, and catalog inventory for a web site. It can also be used to record video and for a web site. Digital cameras have become increasingly more user
friendly, needing only a USB cord or flash memory card to upload pictures, which can then be edited.

Server – A server can be used by every employee, each of them has right of entry to the information on the server, as well as rights to update this information, keeping sales, data, and inventory up to date.

Printer – This business would need a printer to print any documents or hard copies like invoice forms or reports, and also as receipts to be sent out to customers with their orders.

RFID System – This Radio Frequency Identification would be essential for a small boutique, especially if it is also selling clothes online. These microchips are placed on items that track where the inventory goes throughout the store. This tracking allows items to be restocked and ordered. This technology also gives valuable information like when the item was manufactured and its price.

Personal Information Manager (PIM) – A PIM, like Microsoft Outlook, would be valuable for a small business like this in order to set out task reminders including when to mail items, when to stock up on inventory, for billing purposes, to send out invitations, and any other important dates and notes. It would also store important contacts, addresses, and e-mails.